Electrical conduit fitting



Nov. 19, 1935. -c. E. RUTHERFORD 2,021,492

ELECTRICAL CONDUIT FITTING Filed March 2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 by I INVENTOR fiarZwE Fad/567.2921

BY "Pg- Duo-H mm R42 fame ATTORNEYS 1935- c. E. RUTHERFORD ELECTRICAL CONDUIT FI TTING Filed March 2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M M 5 m m NM R w 0 m E m 0 wmw 1m n/v w M Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNlTED STATE FATEN'E OFFIQE 2,021,492 ELECTRICAL COND UIT FITTING of Connecticut Application March 2, 1935, Serial No. 9,022

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in electrical conduit fittings, and has for an object the provision of improved fittings of an adjustable type. More particularly, the invention contemplates the provision of improved adjustable conduit fittings for installation over baseboards or similar projections of various thicknesses.

In the installation of electrical conduits on the walls and other interior surfaces of a building, it is highly desirable to have the conduit lie flat against the wall or other surface upon which it is mounted to make it as inconspicuous as possible, to avoid crevices or other spaces in which dirt can accumulate and to eliminate, to as great an extent as possible, any mechanical strain on the conduit system. This is relatively easy to accomplish when the wall is fiat and there are no projections over which the conduit must pass, but it frequently happens that the conduit must overlie some projection, such, for example, as a baseboard. Fittings for installation over baseboards and like projections have long been obtainable upon the market, but heretofore unless the projection was of the precise thickness for which the fitting was designed, it has been very difiicult, if not impossible, to make a neat and mechanically unstrained installation, with the conduit flat against both the surface of the wall and the surface of the projection, without a considerable expenditure of time and effort.

The present invention provides a simple, cheap, and easily installed conduit fitting for use in conjunction with electrical conduits, whereby conoverlying a wall and a projection extending outwardly therefrom, such as a baseboard, may be caused to lie fiat against the surface of the wall and the surface of the outwardly extending projection. The fitting of the invention, which comprises the component parts of a receptacle having an elbow associated therewith, is so constructed that the position of the elbow with respect to the receptacle may be adjusted to the requirements of any particular installation.

The invention is described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l. is a perspective View of a base member of a fitting constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 shows in perspective a cover member for use in conjunction with the base member shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the complete fitting of which elements are shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section of afitting taken substantially along the line l-t of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a base member of a modified form of fitting constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a cover member adapted for use in conjunction with the base a member shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a vertical cross section through an assemble-d fitting of which elements are shown in Figs. 5 and 6,.taken substantially along a line corresponding to the line 'i-'i of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross section similar to Fig. 7, but showing a modified assembly of the fitting;

9 is a vertical cross section through a fitting of which elements are shown in Figs. 5 to 8, taken substantially along a line corresponding to 15 the line 9-5 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of a modified form of base member constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 11 is a perspective View of a cover member 20 for use in conjunction with the base member shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a perspective View of an elbow cover especially adapted for use in conjunction with the members shown in Figs. 10 and 11; and

Fig. 13 is a vertical cross section through an assembled fitting comprising the elements shown in Figs. 10 to 12.

In the fitting shown in Figs. 1 to 4, a base memher it having associated therewith a tongue 2! 30 is mounted over a baseboard or other projection 22 and is held in position by screws 23. The tongue 2! is bent transversely adjacent its midportion and is adapted to engage with a conduit and serve as the base member of an elbow. One 35 leg portion Zia of the tongue 2! is provided with a slot 24, through which extends a screw 25. The screw 25 engages threads in the base member 28, and its head is of sufliciently great diameter to engage'the side portions of the slot 40 2 5. By loosening the screw 25, the tongue may be adjusted by sliding it in or out within limits determined by the length of the slot 24, and when it has been properly positioned, the screw 25 is tightened to hold it firmly in place. 45

A cover member 26 is provided to engage with the base member 2i! and to form therewith an enclosed receptacle. When installed, the cover member 26 is held in position by means of a bolt 2! extending through the cover member and en- 50 gaging with a threaded member 30 firmly connected to the base member. Means associated with the base member 28, for example, small tongues 3|, and cooperating means associated with the covermember 20, for example, knock- 55 out portions 32, are provided to engage with conduits leading to the assembled fitting and to receive them in the receptacle.

To complete the fitting an elbow cover 33 is provided. The elbow cover 33 engages with the tongue 2| associated with the base member 20 to provide an enclosed elbow, and is received in the receptacle through a suitable opening 34 in the cover member 26.

The fitting is installed as follows: The base member 25 is mounted in the correct position over a baseboard 22 or other projection, and is screwed or otherwise fastened in place. Conduits 35 through which wires are introduced into the fitting may next be installed, the conduits engaging with the small tongues 3| of the base member. Small tongues which are not to be so employed may be broken off adjacent scores 36, or may be suitably cut or sawed in such a manner that they do not project outwardly beyond the edge of the base member 26.

The tongue 2| is adjusted to its proper position, as determined by the thickness of the baseboard 22, for the particular installation in question, and is then fastened in place by tightening the screw 25. After a conduit 37 leading to the elbow has been introduced into engagement with the tongue 2| and wires have been drawn therethrough, the elbow cover 33 is placed in position so that it overlaps the end portion of the conduit 37. All necessary electrical connections are made, and thereafter the cover member 26 is mounted in position and fastened to the base member 20 by means of the bolt 2'! to complete the assembly.

The upper leg portion of the elbow cover 33 is of sufficient length so that it will meet with and engage the opening 34 in the cover member 26 when the tongue 2| is adjusted to extend outwardly from the receptacle the maximum distance allowed by the slot 24; on the other hand, the interior of the receptacle is of sufficient depth so that at the other extreme of adjustment, when the tongue 2| extends inwardly as far as the slot 24 will allow it to go, there is space for enough of the elbow cover 33 to project into the interior of the receptacle to allow the lower leg of the elbow cover to come flush with the wall. By virtue of this capability of adjustment of the tongue, combined with the corresponding capability of adjustment of the elbow cover, I am able to secure the results described above with the conduit 31 lying fiat against the surface of the baseboard or other projection, with the tongue 2| properly engaging with the conduit 31, and with the elbow cover engaging the conduit 37, the tongue 2 i, and the opening 34, within a range of thickness of baseboard determined by the length of the slot 24.

Where greater degrees of adjustability are desired I use the modified form shown in Figs. 5 to 13.

In the modified fitting shown in Figs. 5 to 9, a base member 4|) is provided with a tongue 4| of sufiicient length to serve as the base member of an elbow. A cover member 42 suitably configured to engage with the base member and to form therewith an enclosed receptacle is provided. The engagement between the cover member 42 and the base member 4|) is effected by clips '43 on the cover member, which fit snugly into rec'es'ses Q formed in the base member. An especially satisfactory engagement may be effected if the clips are provided with ridges adapted to engage slots 45 adjacent the recesses 44 in the base member 4i] (Fig. 9).

As in the fitting described in conjunction with Figs. 1 to 4, the base member 40 is provided with short tongues 41 and the cover member 42 with cooperating knockout portions 5|] to engage with conduits leading to the fitting and to receive them in the receptacle formed by the base member and the cover member. The short tongues fill may be 5 scored adjacent the edge of the base member so that they may be broken off in the event that they are not to be used.

The tongue 4| is bendable transversely substantially at any desired point, for example, as 10 indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 5. When thus bent, the tongue is adapted to serve as the base member of an elbow and to engage with a conduit (not shown) leading to the elbow. To complete the elbow, an elbow cover 5| is provided 15 for engagement with the tongue and with the receptacle formed by the base member 46 and the cover member 42, an openin 52 being provided in the cover member 42 to receive the elbow cover. Advantageously, one leg portion 55a of the elbow 23 cover 5| is longer than the other leg portion 5|b thereof, in order to increase adjustability of the fitting.

To install the modified fitting, the base member 46 is suitably fastened in position over a base- 5 board or other projection 53 or 53a, for example, by means of a screw 54. Wire-carrying conduits leading to the fitting are installed as desired, and the tongue 4| is bent around the projection 53 or 53a, so that the elbow of which it forms the base 30 member will properly fit the particular projection involved. After a conduit (not shown) leading to the elbow has been introduced into engagement with the tongue 4| and after the wires passing therethrough and which are to pass through the 35 elbow have been placed in position, the elbow cover 5| is installed. When the projection 53 is relatively broad (Fig. '7), the tongue 4| may be bent adjacent its outer end portion, and the elbow cover 5| may be installed with its longer leg 40 portion 5| a adjacent the base member 48. When the projection 53a is relatively narrow (Fig. 8), the tongue may be bent adjacent its inner end portion and the elbow cover may be installed with its shorter leg portion 5 |b adjacent the base mem- 45 ber 40.

After the necessary electrical connections have been made, the assembly of the fitting is completed by placing the cover member 42 in position over the base member 41!, the elbow cover 5!, and the conduits leading to the receptacle.

A third modification of a fitting constructed in accordance with the invention is shown in Figs.

10 to 13. In this modification, a base member 58 is provided with a tongue 6|, the tongue 6| being adapted to serve as the base member of an elbow and to engage with a conduit (not shown) leading to the elbow. The tongue BI is scored to define a plurality of segments 62, any number of which may be broken or otherwise severed from 60 the tongue to adjust its length as may be desired. Small tongues 63, with which the base member is also provided, furnish means for the engagement thereof with conduits leading to the fitting. The edge portions of the base member 68 are turned 5 up to provide flanges 64, and with these flanges a cover member t6 frictionally engages, thereby to form with the base member an enclosed receptacle. The end portions 81 of the cover member 66 define channels adapted to cooperate with the small tongues 63 of the base member and to receive conduits leading to the fitting. An opening 68 in the cover member serves to receive the cover of the elbow.

An elbow cover 69 completes the elements of the fitting. One leg portion 69a-of the elbow cover 69 is scored or slotted along one leg to define a plurality of segments 10. Any number of the segments 10 may be broken or otherwise severed from the scored leg portion of the elbow cover 69 to adjust the length thereof as desired.

The length of each of the segments 10 of the elbow cover 69 preferably is the same as the length of each of the segments 62 of the tongue 6|. When a given number of segments 10 have been broken from the scored leg of the elbow cover, a corresponding number of segments 62 may be broken from the tongue, thereby to maintain the overall length of the elbow cover and the overall length of the tongue, which serves as the base member of the elbow, substantially equal.

The modified fitting may be installed over a baseboard or other projection in the following manner: The base member 60 is placed in position over a projection H and is fastened thereto by means of a screw 12. Conduits leading to the fitting are introduced into engagement with the small tongues 63, and the tongue BI is then bent around the projection H so that the elbow, of which it forms the base member, will properly fit the particular projection which it overlies. A conduit (not shown) leading to the elbow is introduced into engagement with the tongue fil, electrical wiring is suitably installed and connected, and thereafter the elbow cover 69 is placed in position over the tongue 6i, with which it engages to form an enclosed elbow. In order that the leg portion 69a, of the elbow cover adjacent the base member of the receptacle will fit properly, its length is adjusted by breaking therefrom an appropriate number of segments 10. A corresponding number of segments 62 are then broken from the tongue 6| to adjust its length to that of the elbow cover. The assembly of the fitting is completed by placing the cover member 66 in engagement with the base member 60 so that the opening 68 in the cover member receives'the elbow cover 69 and the end portions 61 of the cover member overlap the conduits leading to the fitting.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention contemplates the provision of fittings having varying degrees of adjustability. In the case of the fitting described in conjunction with Figs. 1 to 4, the adjustability thereof is limited by the length of the slot in the tongue, which may amount to a half to three quarters of an inch in length; for many purposes a greater degree of adjustability is unnecessary. Thus, for example,

most baseboards will not vary in thickness by more than three quarters of an inch, so that this form of fitting will provide ample adjustability to insure a neat installation over most baseboarcls. V

In those cases where a greater degree of adjustability is necessary or desirable, the fitting described in conjunction with Figs. 5 to 9 may be employed. In this modification, the point at which the tongue is bent, and hence the position of t e angle of the elbow, may be varied within limits determined only by the length of the tongue. By providing an elbow cover having legs of different lengths, the adjustability of the fitting is substantially enhanced, for in such case the length of the elbow adjacent the receptacle may correspond either to the length of the shorter leg portion or to the length of the longer leg portion of the elbow cover. In the case of the modified fitting described in conjunction with Figs. 10 to 13, a still greater degree of adjustability is provided by making adjustable the length 'of the leg of the elbow cover adjacent the receptacle.

Fittings constructed in accordance with the invention may be employed with advantage in almost any installation where a wire conduit system must overlie a baseboard or similar projection, and the fittings themselves are easily designed to match existing types of conduit, such, for example, as the type of conduit described in Patent No. 1,981,742, dated November 20, 1934. Moreover, the fittings may readily be connected electrically to the balance of the conduit system for purposes of grounding.

I claim:

1. A fitting for use in conjunction with electrical conduits which comprises a base member, a tongue associated with the base member and adapted to serve as the base member of an elbow, the tongue being capable of adjustment with respect to the length of the leg portion thereof adjacent the base member, a cover member adapted to engage with the base member and to form therewith an enclosed receptacle, and an elbow cover for engagement with the tongue to provide an enclosed elbow extending at least within the outer surface of said enclosed receptacle.

2. A fitting for use in conjunction with electrical conduits which comprises a base member,

a cover member adapted to engage with the base member and toform therewith an enclosed receptacle, a tongue associated with the base member and adapted to engage with a conduit and to serve as the base member of an elbow, said tongue being capable of adjustment so that the position of the elbow of which the tongue forms the base member is adjustable relative to the receptacle, an elbow cover adapted to engage with the tongue to provide an enclosed elbow extending at least within the outer surface of said enclosed receptacle, and provision for the adjustment of the leg portion of the elbow cover adjacent the receptacle to correspond to the adjustment of the tongue.

3. A fitting for use in conj cal conduits which comprises a base member, a cover member adapted to engage with the base member and to form therewith an enclosed receptacle, means associated with the base member to provide for engagement with conduits leading to the receptacle, cooperating means associated with the cover member for receiving the conduits, a tongue associated with the base member and adapted to engage with a conduit and to serve as the base member of an elbow, said tongue being capable of adjustment'so that the position of the elbow, of which it forms the base member, is adjustable relative to the receptacle, and an elbow cover adapted to engage with the tongue to prounction with electrivide an enclosed elbow extending at least within the outer surface of said enclosed receptacle.

4. A fitting for use in conjunction with electrical conduits which comprises a base member, a cover adapted to engage with the base member and to form therewith an enclosed receptacle, a 6

' extending at least within the outer surface of said enclosed receptacle, thereby to provide an enclosed elbow that is adjustable with respect to the leg adjacent the receptacle.

- 5. A fitting for use in conjunction with electrical conduits which comprises a base member, a cover member adapted to engage with the base member and to form therewith an enclosed receptacle, a tongue associated with the base member and adapted to serve as the base member of an elbow, said tongue being bendable transversely substantially at any desired point and thereby providing for the adjustment of the length of the leg of the elbow, of which it forms the base member, adjacent the receptacle, and an elbow cover for engagement with the tongue associated with the base member of the receptacle to provide an enclosed elbow extending at least within the outer surface of said enclosed receptacle.

6. A fitting for use in conjunction with electrical conduits which comprises a base member, a cover member adapted to engage with the base member and to form therewith an enclosed receptacle, a tongue associated with the base member and adapted to serve as the base member of elbow, said tongue being bendable transversely substantially at any desired point and thereby providing for the adjustment of the length of the leg of the elbow, of which the tongue forms the base member, adjacent the receptacle, and an elbow cover having one leg longer than the other adapted to engage with the tongue, after it has been bent, to form an enclosed elbow extending at least within the outer surface of said enclosed receptacle.

7. A fitting for use in conjunction with electrielbow cover having one leg of adjustable length adapted to engage with the tongue associated with the base member to provide an enclosed elbow extending at least within the outer surface of said enclosed receptacle.

8. A fitting for use in conjunction with electrical conduits which comprises a base member, a cover member adapted to engage with the base member and to form therewith an enclosed receptacle, a tongue associated with the base member and adapted to serve as the base member of an elbow, said tongue being bendable transversely substantially at any desired point and providing for the adjustment of the length of the leg of the elbow, of which the tongue forms the base member, adjacent the receptacle, and an elbow cover adapted to engage with the tongue associated with the base member of the receptacle to provide an enclosed elbow extending at least within the outer surface of said enclosed receptacle, one leg of the elbow cover being scored at intervals to render that leg readily adjustable in length.

CHARLES E. RUTHERFORD. 

